“He’s not an insurance agent, is he?” My gut turned just thinking about it.
“No, but I’ll let him fill you in.”
“You want me to sit in?” Matt asked.
“Yes, since we’re assigning you to Nina full time, you need to be in the loop.”
Tears of fear and frustration filled my eyes as they talked about me like I wasn’t standing next to them.
“I’m right here.” I muttered softly enough that no one would hear me.
“Sorry, Nina, I didn’t mean to leave you out,” John said.
Or not. My cheeks felt like they were on fire as John continued. “We’re assigning you a protection detail until we get to the bottom of the situation.”
Before I could ask, John added, “Nathan is protecting your grandmother, so you don’t have to worry about her safety.”
I nodded, grateful they’d thought to protect her too.
I had a million questions, but couldn’t find the words to ask anything other than, “Why?”
“If you’re ready, Austin will answer your questions.”
I felt anything but ready, but I wanted answers.
Matt entered the conference room first and walked to the far side of the large table to sit beside Doug. John pulled out a chair near the head of the table and gestured for me to sit.
Before John took his seat, Austin stood and said, “Thank you for coming, Miss Novak.” I cringed. Something about the formal, detached greeting set my nerves on edge.
“Would you prefer we use your first name?”
“Yes.” Remembering my manners, I added, “Please.”
“Before we begin, I need to stress that nothing I’m about to tell you leaves this room.”
My lungs took a mini-vacation as my mind tried to wrap itself around the warning.
He waited for me to agree before continuing.
“First, let me reintroduce myself.” He pulled out a wallet with his ID and a badge. “I’m Officer Austin Winchester, of the CIA.”
If eyes could pop out of heads, mine would have. Then they would’ve bounced off my shoes before rolling under the table.
The CIA? What did the CIA want with me?
My heart raced.Oh my God, do they think I’m a spy or something?
I clutched my hands in my lap and tried to calm myself down.
The CIA disappeared people, and they want to question me. I wanted to bolt, but my body froze in place.
“You’re not in any trouble,” John said beside me.
I wish I could say his words reassured me, but they didn’t.
I clutched the arms of my chair so no one would see my hands trembling.
Emotionless Austin was even less reassuring when he said, “I promise, you’re not in trouble.”
